We are in a strong position: Taylor

Despite losing a couple of late wickets, New Zealand skipper, Ross Taylor felt that his team were in a strong position.

New Zealand ended the first day at 232/4 but lost the settled pair of Ross Taylor (45) and Martin Guptill (97) shortly before the close of play.

"I'm sure they would have liked to have got a few more wickets. I guess the momentum shifted a little getting two wickets, myself and Guptill, they would have been a little more happy with the day but I think we're on top and it is going to be a hard batting track out there in the third and fourth innings so we need to score a lot of runs in this first innings," Taylor said.

Taylor mentioned that he did not have a set total in mind, but wanted to bat at least until Tea on Day 2. "It is quite hot out there and if we can keep them out there as long as possible...," he said.

Taylor said that the loss of two late wickets to Sunil Narine was crucial. He felt that the first hour of play on the second day would be crucial to both teams.

"Hopefully, we can negate that in the morning and get a good partnership and score a lot of runs because if it is breaking up then obviously we're in the box seat," he said.

Taylor was also impressed by the efforts of Daniel Flynn who battled sickness to keep the Windies at bay in the morning session.

He also felt that they could approach Narine in a more relaxed manner in Test cricket showing the difference between having to attack him in the shorter forms of the game as compared to the longer format of the game.

"Red ball and white ball are totally different," he said. "Red ball, we don't have to go after him, he has to come and get us. With the white ball we have to attack him and it showed today that if you sit on him, he goes searching. He picked up a couple of wickets towards the end there, but I thought the way we played him was very good and if we can continue that good work then we can get a sizeable total tomorrow."